Art of charging converters with liquefied gas



July 28, 1942. RUDD 2,291,287

ART OF CHARGING CONVERTERS WITH LIQUEFIED GAS Filed Aug. 10, 1939ATTORNEYxS' Patented July 28, 1942 UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTOFCHARGING CONVERTERS WITH I LIQUEFIED GAS Harry B. Rudd, Flushing, N. Y.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to Air Reduction Company, Incorporated,a corporationot New York Application August 10, 1939, Serial No. 289,3872 Claims. (Cl. 62-1) My invention relates to the liquefied gas art andcomprehends a method of and apparatus for disposing in a container aquantity of liquefied gas which changes in phase to thereby produce asupply of gas at high pressure.

My invention has particular reference to a method of filling a containerin such manner that the liquefied gas as such is placed in the containerwithout developing a gaseous back pressure suflicient to seriouslyinterfere with the filling operation.

Various other objects, features and advantages of my invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description.

My invention resides in the method of filling a container with liquefiedgas, apparatus for accomplishing that purpose as well as featuresv ofthe liquefied gas art of the character hereinafter described andclaimed.

For an understanding of my invention and for an illustration of some ofthe forms thereof, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing,in which: i

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, illustrating thedisposal of a liquefied gas in a measuring container; 7

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, partly in section, illustrating thedisposal of the measuring container in a converting container;

Fig. 2a is an enlarged plan view of the converting container;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view,.partly in sec tion, showing theconverting container after it has been sealed; and v Fig. 4 is anelevational view, partly in section, illustrating a modification of theinvention.

Referring to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 2a and3', I have shown a container or casing A, herein designated as aconverting container or converter," which may be one of the variousforms of containers known in the art as liquefiers for solid carbondioxide.

As herein shown, the converter A is of seamless, tubular configurationand is supported in vertical upright relation by suitable standards Iwhich rest upon a fioor or'other surface and, at their upper ends, aresuitably attached to said converter A. As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and3, the converter A comprises a curved lower section 2 which, if desired,may terminate in a depending neck 3 having a passage threaded interiorlyfor the reception of a suitable closure device such, for example, as anozzle 4, the upper threaded end of which is received in said'internallythreaded passage and the lower threaded end of which carries a cap 5which may be removed when it becomes desirable .to vent the converter Aat the bottom thereof.

The converter A comprises a top wall 6 formed integrally therewith, thistop wall 6, preferably, having greater thickness than the lower tubularwall and. in the example shown, said top wall 6 comprises a fillingopening I of generally elliptical configuration. The opening 1 isadapted to be closed by a closure plate or member 8, Fig. '3, the uppersurface of which preferably carries, a handle'9 and an attached chainI0. The closure plateB comprises an upstanding flange II and a laterallyextending section l2 both of elliptical: configuration in correspondencewith the configuration of the filling opening 1. The corner formed bythe flange l l and the laterally extending section l2 of the plate 8 isadapted to receive a gasket I3 which, when the converter A is usederably from metal having a thickness of 1%. of an inch,'more 'or less,is positioned horizontally in the lower converter section and weldedthereto so as to be suitably maintained in fixed position. The plate l4should be provided with a plurality of holes or passages Ha. l

Referring to Fig. 1, I have shown an auxiliary measuring container Bwhich may be formed from suitable sheet metal such, for example, asaluminum, brass or the like having a thickness of 0.15 of an inch moreor less. The measuring container B preferably comprises a bale l5 and anattached chain l6.

In accordance with the invention, the measuring container B is filled toa desired extent and in suitable manner with a quantity of a liquefiedgas, this expression being herein used in a generic sense as descriptiveof liquid oxygen, liquid air or liquid nitrogen. This operation may beperformed in any suitable manner and, as illustrative of a convenientway of so doing, I have shown a container C having a pouring spout l1and equipped with a bale I8, the container C being of suitable charactersuch, for example, as one comprising a vacuum space serving forheat-insulating purposes.

After a desired quantity of the liquefied gas L has been transferredfrom the pouring container C to the container B, for example, in themanner illustrated in Fig. land with the closure plate 8 removed fromits seat on th converter A, the filled container B may be manuallyelevated and then passed downwardly through the filling opening I of theconverter A whereby said container B comes to rest upon the member I indistantly from the adjacent curved wall of said converter A. Thereupon,the closure plate 8 may.v

be passed endwise through the filling opening I, turned horizontallyinto proper closing position with respect to said filling opening I andthen suitably held for an interval until a sufiicient quantity of theliquefied gas has changed in phase to increase the gas pressureinteriorly of the converter A to such extent that gas pressure aloneholds the closure plate 8 in sealing position with respect to thefilling opening I as shown in Fig. 3.

' Thereafter, as change in phase of the liquefied gas proceeds, the gaspressure interiorly of the converter A progressively increases until,eventually, the liquefiedgas'in said converter A is replaced by a body.of gas having high pressure.

From the foregoing, it will be understood by those skilled in the artthat, by my method, a desired quantity of liquefied gasm'ay be chargedor'placed in the converter A in an efiicient, practical manner.

- Thecontainer C should be filled with liquefied gas obtained from aninsulated chamber and, be cause heat-insulating, there is little loss-atthe mouth thereof. The measuring container 8' is i such manner that itis spaced more or less equiinvention, reference is to be had to Fig. 4wherein Y there is illustrated a converter A of the same characterhereinbefore described and'which is adapted .to be sealed by a closureplate 8 likewise in the same manner as previously described ina detailedmanner.

formed from thin sheet material, the mass of whichis small compared withthe massof the liquefied gas which is introduced thereinto. Hence, onlyslight boiling of the liquefied gas occurs as a result of theintroduction thereof into said container B. As soon as the container'Bis filled, it is placed in the converter A where it comes'to rest uponthe member [4. It follows, therefore, that there is no contact oftheliquefied gas with the metal mass of the converter A. Further, heatmay be transferred from said converter -A to the liquefied gas in thecontainer B only by way of the plate H and through the gas space betweensaid converter A and container B.

Obviously, during the short period of time which elapses while disposingthe container B. in the converter and effecting the sealing of thelatter, only a negligible. amount of heat may be. transmitted to theliquefied gas in the manner described, and as a result, only slightboiling of the liquefied gas occurs prior to'the time that the"converterAissealed.

It'follows, therefore, that, by my invention, a converter may be chargedwith a desired quantity of a liquefied gas and, before the converter issealed, only a small quantity of the liquefied gas boils away. Such gasas does boil away is sufficient, approximately to displace theatmospheric air from within said converter. By my invention, thepressure in the converter A, prior to the sealing thereof, remainssubstantially at .atmos;

'pheric value inasmuch as the described slight boiling of the liquefiedgasv causes escape of gas, 1. e.. most if-not all of the atmospheric airin the converter, to the atmosphere or equivalent pressure zone by wayof the filling opening I. This maintenance of atmospheric pressureis ofdis- -With the form of the invention illustrated in- Fig. 4, a measuringcontainer, which may be of the same character as the measuring containerB and is so shown, is adapted to remain permanently within the converterA and to be spaced from the adjacent wall structure thereof in themanner hereinbefore described. when, this measuring container B of Fig.-4 is to'be charged with a quantity of liquefied gas, a funnel 20 may bepositioned as shown with the conical section 20a of the funnel restingupon the adjacent upper surface of the top wall 6 of the converter A andthe spout 20b of the funnel extending downwardly into the measuringcontainer B; The

funnel 28 should be constructed from thin sheet material, such, forexample, as sheet aluminum, sheet copper or the like, somewhat the sameas the container B.

With the measuring container B and the funn 20 positioned as shown inFig. 4,. liquefied gas from a suitable supply thereof may be poured intothe funnel 20 so as to pass downwardly into the measuring container B.As one arrangement for doing this, there may be used an insulatedcontainer C of the character hereinbefore described.

It shall be understood, however, that my invention is not to be limitedto the use of a container C for pouring the liquefied tainer B.- Byreason of gas into the con}- the fact that the mass of the funnel 20 issmall compared with the mass of the liquefied gas passingtherethroughand, further, by reason of thefact that the funnel 20 hasonly line contact with parts of the elliptical filling opening of theconverter A so that heat transfer from the converter A to the funnel201s negligible, it results that only slightboiling of the liquefied gasoccurs as it passes into the measuring container B, Fig. 4. In order tokeep this boiling to a minimum, it is desirable that the spout 20b ofthe, funnel terminate close to thebottom of the container B so as todecrease the periodof time during which the descending column ofliquefied gas is in contact with the air. As stated in connectionwiththe form of the invention first,

described, there is only slight transfer of heat from the converter A tothe measuring container B and, hence, the manner of supporting thecontainer B is a negligible factor as regards boiling away of theliquefied gas prior to the time that the converter issealed.

As the filling operation proceeds and untilthe converter A of Fig. 4 issealed, the pressure interiorly of said converter A remainssubstantially at' atmospheric pressure, this occurring because thatsmall portion of gas which doesboil away causes atmospheric air to passfreely to the atmosphere or equivalent pressure zone-along a pathdefined by the outer surface of the conical converter of the incomingliquefied gas, the feature last noted being particularly characteristicof the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4. These features are ofdecided importance in connection with the successful operation of myinyention.

After the measuring container B of Fig. 4 has been filled to a desiredextent, the funnel 20 is removed and the converter A is sealed by use ofa closure plate 8 in the same manner as hereinbefore described.

It shall be understood that my inventionis not to be limited to theutilization of converters A of the character herein described in detail.As well, there may be utilized converters of other equivalent types and,further, the converter sealing arrangement need not be constituted by anelliptical closure plate for a corresponding filling opening since, aswell understood in the art of liquefying solid carbon dioxide, there areother equivalent sealing arrangements and these may be used if desiredin practicing my invention.

A converter A of the character herein disclosed is intended to serve asa source of supply of gas resulting from the change in phase of theliquefied gas. Accordingly, a suitable dispensing arrangement should beassociated with each converter A and, to this end, there may beutilized, for example, a high pressure valve 2| as known in the art forcontrolling the flow of gaseous oxygen, said valve 2| being threadedthrough the converter side wall so as to communicate with the interiorof the converter, this valve 2| 'controlling the passage of the highpressure gas to a suitable conduit 22 which leads to any suitabledispensing station, not shown. Further, it is desirable for eachconverter to have a similar normally closed second valve 23 threadedthrough the wall thereof so as to communicate with the interior thereof.This valve 23, when provided, may be utilized for venting the converterA to the atmosphere should that become necessary or desirable. Forexample, the gas pressure interiorly of the converter A may remainsomewhat above the atmospheric value after all the gas has been drawntherefrom that is commercially practical. mospheric value, the valve 23may be opened to the atmosphere whereupon the closure plate 8 may bereleased from its seat.

After the converters A have been filled with liquefied gas and sealed ashereinbefore described, change in phase of the liquefied gas occurs inresponse to transfer of heat through the walls of the converters A fromthe ambient air. If desired, such change in phase may be expedited byexchanging heat in any suitable manner with the liquefied gas.

High pressure converters A of the character herein described are rathermassive and the tem- Derature thereof, such temperature ordinarily beingroom temperature, is decidedly higher than the temperature of theliquefied gas L. By my invention, as stated, there is only slighttransfer of heat from the massive converter to the liquefied gas. Themass of the'funnel 20 and/or the measuring container B is so smallithat,even though these devices are at room temperature when the fillingoperation is initiated,the resultant boiling of the liquefied gas isslight. Therefore, allowing for all factors which act to cause boilingaway of the liquefied gas, the total amount which actually boils awayduring the short time required fora filling and sealing operation isslight.

In order to release this pressure to atwise in suitable manner.

In one form of theinvention, the gas pressure. interiorly of a converterA, when the phasechanging operation has been completed, may be of theorder of 3,000 pounds per square inch and the drums, which are to becharged with gas from the converter may reach a pressure of the order of2,000 pounds per square inch. However,

in no manner at all is my invention to be limited to converter pressuresor drum pressures of the values just stated.

In applications filed of even date herewith, Serial No. 289,388, filedAugust 10, 1939 and Serial No. 289,389, filed August 10, 1939, I havedisclosed methods of charging drums with gas obtained from converters Aof the character herein disclosed. It will be understood that theinventionof this application may be used in association with theinventions of either of the applications above noted and, if so, theresulting system comprehends a converter as herein disclosed forreceiving liquefied gas which changes in phase to produce gas at highpressure, this high pressure gas being charged into drums in the mannerdisclosed in either of said applications last noted, for example.

Although the use of a container C is desirable when practicing myinvention, it shall be understood that the invention is not to be solimited since the containers B may be filled otherunderstood that myinvention is not to be limited to the useof a funnel 20. tainer B ofFig. 4 could be filled otherwise than by the use of a funnel 20. Thus,for example, said container B of Fig. 4 could be held in elevatedposition while disposed within the converter A, filled with liquefiedgas while so held,

from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended thereforein the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

,What is claimed as new and desired to be se- -'cured by Letters Patentis:

closure plate in sealing position with respect to said charging openingto maintain said converter Further, it will be Obviously, the consealedwhile change in phase of the liquefied gas proceeds, thegas asthuschanged in phase hold a ing said closure plate in sealing position.

t 2., In the art of producing a supply of gas in a converter having acharging opening and having the liquefied gas and the metal surfacesdefinmeme converter charging converterwalls and while permibflpg-eecapof gas, upon increase in pressure interior-1y of the converter, to theatmosphere byway oi said charging opening, placing a closure plate insealing position with respect to said charging opening to maintain saidconverter sealed while change inphase of the liquefledgas proceeds, thegas as, thus. changed in phase holding said closure plate 10 in sealingposition.

' HARRY B. RUDD.

